Fort Worth residents gathered Sunday for a free farewell event titled “It’s Goin’ Down,” held from noon to 4 p.m. at the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena on Ninth and Main. The city billed the gathering as the final public use of the beloved “flying saucer” before remediation and demolition slated for early 2027.
Celebrating five decades of community memories
The arena first opened in 1968 as the Tarrant County Convention Center, with a christening by Bob Hope. Its distinctive circular roof quickly made it a downtown landmark, hosting concerts, high‑school graduations, sports contests and civic gatherings for nearly six generations.
Sunday’s program reflected that rich history. Live music spanned five decades, vendor booths offered local crafts, and a 10,000‑square‑foot exhibit displayed photographs, memorabilia and stories from the venue’s past. Organizers even recreated a oversized ticket inspired by a $6.50 Rolling Stones floor ticket from 1972 that workers uncovered in storage.
Mayor Parker frames the transition as progress
Mayor Mattie Parker said the send‑off honored the building while looking ahead to Fort Worth’s future. “Fort Worth continues to lead as an ‘unexpected city,’ one that celebrates who we are, honors where we’ve been, and most importantly, celebrates where we’re going,” she said in a city announcement.
The arena’s removal is a key component of Phase 2 of the city’s $701 million convention‑center expansion and modernization plan. Officials explained that the new space will provide more traditional convention facilities, allowing Fort Worth to host multiple client groups simultaneously. Since its opening in 2019, Dickies Arena has already absorbed many large concerts and sporting events that once filled the flying saucer.
What comes next for the downtown skyline
While demolition will not begin until early 2027, the arena will remain a visual fixture of the downtown skyline until then. In the interim, the city will focus on remediation work to prepare the site for the next phase of construction.
Attendance numbers for the farewell have not been released, but the event drew a sizable crowd of longtime residents, former performers and civic leaders, all eager to say goodbye to a piece of Fort Worth heritage.
Official details about the farewell and the broader expansion can be found on the City of Fort Worth Public Events website.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
